Heath, i agree!
obviously declawing is a north-american "speciality" and uncommon or even forbidden in many other countries. i didn't know about it ether. there's an interesting wikipedia article (link below).
now, this is Pablo, he's a ragdoll and never claws at furniture. quite a docile breed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declawing
Soft paws/claws
We used to live in a flat so our cat was kept indoors. To protect the furniture we used soft paws to cover his claws. They didn't bother him at all. We used the coloured ones once and then changed to clear after most people expressed horror at us painting our cats nails!
To de-claw or not de-claw
was an agonizing issue for me. I have had cats all my life and they have never been de-clawed however when I made the decision to bring in my now 15 yr. old siamese/himalayan rescue (Monsieur Le Catbusier of the pic) and 14 yr. old lilac point I also had toddlers at home. I did not have any qualms, but bowed to my partners concerns regarding possible scratches and bites (he has never had cats) and when it was time to have the first one "fixed" we had the option of neutering and declawing, both done by laser. Almost twice the cost but well worth it as the down time for the little paws was none. They came home the next day with no stitches, no bloody paws, no special litter that was once advised for stitched paws and seemingly unaware they were missing anything parts ( only front paws done). Laser is a great option and I would recommend it way above traditional de-clawing - however Canadian vets advise that the younger the pet the better.
*My oldest cat, despite being de-clawed can still rip the piping off the upholstery and I'll soon be replacing the paper cord on a couple of seats. Nothing compares to the feeling of being kneaded on the biceps or back by his magic paws and thunderous purr.
Did you now that cats are natural Reiki masters?
Jinx-
So those "soft paws" claw covers actually stay put? I've seen these in pet shops, always assumed that any self-respecting cat would immediately pull them off.
(I kinda like the blue ones-- LET people think you paint your cat's toenails!)
As for declawing, I can't fathom how anyone with an appreciation of cats could tinker with their basic design-- cats NEED their claws (and, even if they didn't, I'd never inflict any unnecessary pain or trauma on my little black beauty). Same goes for dogs, and the cruel & silly habit of cropping their ears and docking their tails.
If you need any help, please contact us at – info@designaddict.com